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Campaign part of national effort launched by the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-TALK)

The Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHCS) continues its public education campaign in Central Texas as part of a national effort to reduce suicide. The campaign is designed to help people recognize the warning signs of suicide and to encourage people to call the Veterans Crisis Line, 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Across the country, someone dies by suicide every 17 minutes, accounting for more than 30,000 deaths annually. In the United States, more people die by suicide than by homicide. Worldwide, suicide accounts for nearly half of all violent deaths, nearly 1 million fatalities each year, according to the World Health Organization.

“As part of our local efforts to stop suicide, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System and our partners are sponsoring the Suicide Prevention Week” said Thomas Smith, III, FACHE, Director of Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. "By working together locally and nationally with the National Veterans Crisis Line, we are spreading the message that suicide is preventable and help is available for people in crisis.”

Suicide Prevention Week is September 4-10, 2011. CTVHCS will be marking this occasion by offering educational presentations to VA staff, Veterans and their families on suicide prevention and hosting an awareness booth with written education and awareness items for both the public and staff.

Presentation by Ms. Peggy Marshall, Survivor of Suicide and member of the National Survivors Council for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
9 to 10 a.m.
Location: Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center, Amphitheater
(1901 Veterans Memorial Drive, Temple, TX)

Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) is a federally funded national hotline network of local crisis centers administered by the Mental Health Association of New York City. Launched in January 2005, the Lifeline provides crisis counseling by trained helpers to anyone in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To ensure Veterans with emotional crises have round-the-clock access to trained professionals, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can call the Veterans Crisis Line, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press "1" to
reach the VA hotline, which will be staffed by mental health professionals in Canandaigua, N.Y. who will work closely with local VA mental health providers to help callers.